Adjustable gymnastic bar supported by a-frames

ABSTRACT

A device including oppositely disposed upstanding A-frames having corresponding legs on one side side at least interconnected by a gymnastic bar. The connection between the bar and the legs is by a mounting bracket having a first sleeve slidably and adjustably movable on the leg and a second sleeve vertically oriented for receiving a downwardly extending pin on the gymnastic bar. The two A-frames and mounting brackets may be appropriately used with different types of gymnastic devices.

United States Patent Robertson [54] ADJUSTABLE GYMNASTIC BAR SUPPORTED BY A-FRAMES [72] Inventor: William E. Robertson, 72ll Bryn Mawr Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50322 [22] Filed: Feb. 12, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 10,813

521 u.s.c|. ..272/63, 272/64, 272/62,

272/60 51 lnt.Cl. ..A63b 3/00 581 FieldofSearch ..272/ss, 59c, 60, e2, 63, e4

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS Margulies ..272/63 [4 1 Apr. 4, 1972 3,486,750 12/1969 Krawitz ..272/63 2,547,435 12/1970 Scott Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard Dror Attorney-Zarley, McKee 8L Thomte [5 7] ABSTRACT A device including oppositely disposed upstanding A-frames having corresponding legs on one side side at least interconnected by a gymnastic bar. The connection between the bar and the legs is by a mounting bracket having a first sleeve slidably and adjustably movable on the leg and a second sleeve vertically oriented for receiving a downwardly extending pin on the gymnastic bar. The two A-frames and mounting brackets may be appropriately used with different types of gymnastic devices.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 4 m2 3, 653 65 8 //v mewra Mum/v 5 Foaaersa/v ADJUSTABLE GYMNASTIC BAR SUPPORTED BY A- FRAMES A full line of gymnastic equipment will include many individual pieces of equipment such as the horizontal bar, side horse and parallel bars. The expense for purchasing all of this equipment can be quite great and the room to accommodate this equipment may be unavailable.- I

The gymnastic device of this invention contemplates the use of a pair of A-frames and a universal mounting bracket whichwill permit use of any number of different types of gymnastic devices by appropriately mounting them to the mounting bracket secured to the legs of the A-frames. Thus the expense of purchasing individually all of the pieces of equipment normally used in a complete gymnastic gym will be to a large extent avoided. Moreover, the unlimited possibilities available through use of the A-frame having diagonally oriented legs is a substantial advantage for instance, the uneven parallel bars may be readily mounted on the corresponding legs of two A- frames and the movement of one bar relative to the other along the A-frame legs causes the bars to be separated horizontally as well as vertically since the legs are diagonally oriented.

The mounting bracket involves a sleeve for receiving a leg of the A-frames and another sleeve vertically oriented for receiving a pin on the appropriate gymnastic device. Set screws may be used to lock the bracket to the A-frame leg and the pin of the gymnastic device as desired.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: I

FIG. I is a perspective view of the gymnastic device of this invention assembled.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation fragmentary view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the mounting bracket on the A-frame leg.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing different gymnastic devices mounted on the A-frames and mounting bracket; and

F IG. 5 is a perspective view of the gymnastic device being used out ofdoors.

The gymnastic device of this invention is shown in use in FIG. 1 and is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10. It is seen that it includes two A-frames l2 and 14 each having legs 16, 18 and 20, 22 respectively. As seen in FIG. 2 the upper end of the legs 16 and 18 are pivotally connected by a clevis 24 carried on leg 18 embracing'leg 16 and a bolt 26 extending therethrough to provide a pivot axis. An anchor plate 26 is horizontally disposed on the leg 18 above the leg 16 and includes a pair of holes 28 to which guy wires 30 are connected and in turn are connected through turnbuckles 31 to the floor 32.

A mounting bracket 34 is provided for connecting gymnastic devices to the legs of the A-frames 12 and 14. It is seen that the mounting bracket includes a first sleeve 36 slidably mounted on a leg 18 in FIG. 2 with a set screw 38 extending through the sleeve for adjustably engaging the leg 18. As seen in FIG. 3, a nonmetallic insert such as nylon 40 is provided in the inner end of the set screw 38 to avoid damaging the leg 18 as the bracket moves therealong. A horizontal arm 42 extends horizontally outwardly from the sleeve 36 for rigid engagement with a vertically oriented sleeve 44 which is seen in FIG. 2 receiving the pin 46 extending downwardly from the wood parallel bar 48. A set screw 50 is also provided with the sleeve 44 to adjustably position the parallel bar 48 at the desired hei ht.

l FIG. 4 a vaulting horse or side horse 52 is mounted between the A-frames 12 and 14 by use of the mounting brackets 34 while a balance beam 54 extends outwardly from the leg 18 to which the balance beam is connected by a mounting bracket 34. This figure represents just two additional gymnastic devices which may be used and is representative of the various possibilities available to the user employing the A-frames and mounting brackets of this invention.

The outdoor use of thegymnastic device is seen in FIG. 5 where the A-frames l2 and 14 are mounted on the ground 16 and a single guy wire 30 is usedat each end. A horizontal bar 62 is mounted between the A-frames on the mounting brackets 34.

Since the upper ends of the legs of the A-frames are pivoted together, it is normally desirable to use a horizontally disposed member such as the guy wire 64 for interconnecting the lower ends of the legs in each A-frame to prevent them from spreading apart although the frictional engagement with the ground or floor will substantially limit separation.

It is thus seen in use that the user having a pair of A-frames and a sufficient number of mounting brackets 34 can put together any type of gymnastic device he desires such as the uneven parallel bars in FIG. 1, the horizontal bar of FIG. 5 or the side horse or vaulting horse and balance beam arrangement of FIG. 4. Endless other combinations obviously exist. It is essential, of course, that some sort of device extend between the A-frames to provide a rigid structural device.

The mounting brackets 34 may be rotated to any position on the legs that is desired by turning the bracket about the iongitudinal axis of the sleeve 36 whichis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the leg 18 as seen in FIG. 2. The inherent diagonal arrangement of the legs 16 and 18 in an A-frame I2 is taken advantage of by use of the mounting brackets 34 mounted on the legs since movement therealong relative to any given point on the leg will provide both horizontal and vertical displacement which makes the possible combinations of equipment that may be used together substantially greater. It is also seen that the portability advantage of this gymnastic device is important and also the A-frames may be readily collapsed for efficient storage.

Iclaim:

1. In a gymnastic device,

a pair of oppositely disposed A-frames each comprised of a pair of diagonally disposed legs, means for detachably connecting the upper ends of each pair of legs, the lower ends of each of said legs having means thereon for frictionally engaging a supporting surface, and a horizontal cross-brace interconnecting said legs on each of said A- frames;

at least one horizontally disposed gymnastic bar extending from one of said legs of one of said A-frames to a corresponding leg of the other of said A-frames, said gymnastic bar being spaced above said lower ends of said legs;

bracket means for independently adjustably securing said at least one bar to said two respective legs; said at least one bar comprising the sole means of connection between said A-frames; and

an outwardly extending guy wire being attached to each of said A-frames and being adapted to be secured to support means outwardly from said A-frame.

2. A gymnastic device accordingto claim 1 wherein said legs within each of said A-frames are pivotally connected at their upper ends and said cross braces are guy wires interconnecting said lower ends of said legs within said A-frames to limit the outward swinging movement of said lower ends.

3. In a gymnastic device,

a pair of oppositely disposed A-frames each comprised of a pair of diagonally disposed legs, means for connecting the upper ends of each pair of legs, and a horizontal cross brace interconnecting said legs on each A-frame;

a horizontally disposed gymnastic bar extending from one leg of one A-frame to a corresponding leg of the other A- frame; and

bracket means for independently adjustably securing said bar to said one leg and said corresponding leg, said bracket means having first sleeves slidably mounted on one of said legs and additionally having vertically disposed second sleeves integrally connected to said first sleeves by horizontally extending rigid integral arms;

said bar having downwardly extending end pins received in said second sleeves;

set screw means on said first and second sleeves for providing selective adjustable attachment of said first and second sleeves on said legs and said end pins respectively.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said pair of diagonally disposed legs are pivotally interconnected at their upper ends.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein a second bracket means 

1. In a gymnastic device, a pair of oppositely disposed A-frames each comprised of a pair of diagonally disposed legs, means for detachably connecting the upper ends of each pair of legs, the lower ends of each of said legs having means thereon for frictionally engaging a supporting surface, and a horizontal cross brace interconnecting said legs on each of said A-frames; at least one horizontally disposed gymnastic bar extending from one of said legs of one of said A-frames to a corresponding leg of the other of said A-frames, said gymnastic bar being spaced above said lower ends of said legs; bracket means for independently adjustably securing said at least one bar to said two respective legs; said at least one bar comprising the sole means of connection between said Aframes; and an outwardly extending guy wire being attached to each of said A-frames and being adapted to be secured to support means outwardly from said A-frAme.
 2. A gymnastic device according to claim 1 wherein said legs within each of said A-frames are pivotally connected at their upper ends and said cross braces are guy wires interconnecting said lower ends of said legs within said A-frames to limit the outward swinging movement of said lower ends.
 3. In a gymnastic device, a pair of oppositely disposed A-frames each comprised of a pair of diagonally disposed legs, means for connecting the upper ends of each pair of legs, and a horizontal cross brace interconnecting said legs on each A-frame; a horizontally disposed gymnastic bar extending from one leg of one A-frame to a corresponding leg of the other A-frame; and bracket means for independently adjustably securing said bar to said one leg and said corresponding leg, said bracket means having first sleeves slidably mounted on one of said legs and additionally having vertically disposed second sleeves integrally connected to said first sleeves by horizontally extending rigid integral arms; said bar having downwardly extending end pins received in said second sleeves; set screw means on said first and second sleeves for providing selective adjustable attachment of said first and second sleeves on said legs and said end pins respectively.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said pair of diagonally disposed legs are pivotally interconnected at their upper ends.
 5. The structure of claim 3 wherein a second bracket means as said first bracket means is defined is slidably mounted on one of said parts to support one end of a second gymnastic device.
 6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said second gymnastic device has its other end connected by a third bracket means to the corresponding leg of the other A-frame and said third bracket means is defined as said first bracket means. 